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First Things Podcast

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First Things is America's most influential journal of religion & public life.
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Episodes

Elon Musk's Eugenic Dream

In this episode, Matthew Schmitz joins Rusty Reno at The Editor’s Desk to talk about his piece, “Elon’s Family Values” from the April 2025 issue of the magazine. Please subscribe at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces!

Apr 01, 202536 minEp. 458

Snow What?

The editors discuss the live-action Snow White, Disney's biggest flop in recent memory. Did the star hijack it with her woke statements—or was she scapegoated? Is Disney worthy of its own IP? Virginia Aabram and Germán Saucedo join Julia Yost.

Mar 31, 202545 minEp. 457

The End of White Privilege

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, A.J. Rice joins in to discuss his recent book, "The White Privilege Album: Bringing Racial Harmony to Very Fine People…on Both Sides." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Mar 14, 202531 minEp. 456

Fulton Sheen: Master Evangelist

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Cheryl Hughes joins in to discuss her recent book, "Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Convert Maker." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Mar 12, 202529 minEp. 455

Woke vs. The Left

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, David Rieff joins in to discuss his recent book, "Desire and Fate." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Mar 10, 202542 minEp. 454

Oscars and the Oval Office

The editors discuss last week’s incident in the Oval Office, and what it might portend for American foreign policy. Then they talk the Oscars, and why young people are suddenly going to the movies. Rusty Reno, Dan Hitchens, and Germán Saucedo join Julia Yost.

Mar 06, 202546 minEp. 453

Catholicism at the End of the World

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Jeremy Beer joins in to discuss her recent book, "Beyond the Devil's Road: Francisco Garcés and the Spanish Encounter with the American Southwest." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Feb 27, 202530 minEp. 452

Fiction and Last Things

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Cassandra Nelson joins in to discuss her recent book, "A Theology of Fiction." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Feb 27, 202530 minEp. 451

Brave New World Conservatism

In this episode, Nathan Pinkoski joins Rusty Reno at The Editor’s Desk to talk about his book review, “Paleofuturism” from the February 2025 issue of the magazine. Please subscribe at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces!

Feb 23, 202549 minEp. 450

Cicero the Comedian

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Michael Fontaine joins in to discuss his recent translations, "How to Tell a Joke: An Ancient Guide to the Art of Humor" by Marcus Tullius Cicero and "How to Get Over a Breakup: An Ancient Guide to Moving On" by Ovid Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Feb 19, 202528 minEp. 449

Super Bowls and Bad Samaritans

The editors discuss Super Bowl 59—why we watched, who tried to rig the outcome, and what Taylor Swift will do next. Then we talk JD Vance, Pope Francis, and the ordo amoris. Rusty Reno, Vicky Clarke, and Virginia Aabram join Julia Yost.

Feb 13, 202540 minEp. 448

Architecture for Real People

In this episode, Anselm Audley joins Rusty Reno at The Editor’s Desk to talk about his essay, “Cities for Humans” from the January 2025 issue of the magazine. Please subscribe at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces!

Feb 08, 202542 minEp. 447

From Science to God

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Spencer A. Klavan joins in to discuss his recent book, “Light of the Mind, Light of the World: Illuminating Science Through Faith." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Feb 04, 202532 minEp. 446

The Reboot

In this episode, editors Rusty Reno, Julia Yost, and Dan Hitchens discuss the vibe shift, the Trump electoral and cultural victory, the Catholic vote, the future of the pro-life movement, and JD Vance’s promising future. Please subscribe to the magazine and support our work at www.firstthings.com/subscribe!

Jan 23, 202549 minEp. 445

The Bible Throughout The Ages

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Bruce Gordon joins in to discuss his recent book, “The Bible: A Global History." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Jan 22, 202530 minEp. 444

Redemption Before Christ

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Gerald R. McDermott joins in to discuss his recent book, “A New History of Redemption: The Work of Jesus the Messiah through the Millennia." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Jan 18, 202526 minEp. 443

Theater of the Divine

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Peter Kreeft joins in to discuss his recent book, “God on Stage: 15 Plays That Ask the Big Questions." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Jan 16, 202524 minEp. 442

Make Buildings Beautiful Again

In this episode, Justin Shubow joins Rusty Reno at The Editor’s Desk to talk about his essay, “Monument to Failure” from the March 2016 print edition of the magazine and the importance of the National Endowment for the Arts. Please subscribe to the magazine at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces!

Jan 12, 202546 minEp. 441

The Reading Debate Is Over

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Robert Pondiscio joins in to discuss his articles, “How Public Schools Became Ideological Boot Camps” and "On curriculum and literacy, Texas gets it." Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Jan 06, 202523 minEp. 440

The Poetry of Opera

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Dana Gioia joins in to discuss his new book, “Weep, Shudder, Die: On Opera and Poetry.” Donate now at www.firstthings.com/campaign Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Dec 30, 202436 minEp. 439

Against Christian Civilization | 2024 Erasmus Lecture Presented by Paul Kingsnorth

In this episode, R. R. Reno brings you the recording of the 2024 Erasmus Lecture Presented by Paul Kingsnorth, which you can find in the January 2025 print edition of the magazine. Please subscribe at www.firstthings.com/subscribe in order to access this and many other great pieces! Donate now at www.firstthings.com/campaign

Dec 26, 202451 minEp. 438

How Civilization Became Christian

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Mike Aquilina joins in to discuss his new book, “Rabbles, Riots, and Ruins: Twelve Ancient Cities and How They Were Evangelized.” Donate now at www.firstthings.com/campaign Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Dec 23, 202430 minEp. 437

Israel’s Total Victory

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Daniel Pipes joins in to discuss his new book, “Israel Victory: How Zionists Win Acceptance and Palestinians Get Liberated​.” Donate now at www.firstthings.com/campaign Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Dec 16, 202430 minEp. 436

Christianity and Italian Politics

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Rosario Forlenza and Bjørn Thomassen join in to discuss their new book, “Italy's Christian Democracy: The Catholic Encounter with Political Modernity​.” Donate now at www.firstthings.com/campaign Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Dec 13, 202427 minEp. 435

G. K. Chesterton on Life Stories

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Brady Stiller joins in to discuss his new book, “Your Life Is a Story: G.K. Chesterton and the Paradox of Freedom​.” Donate now at www.firstthings.com/campaign Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Dec 09, 202426 minEp. 434

The Life of a Young Saint

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Christine M. Wohar, joins in to discuss her new book, “Finding Frassati: And Following His Path to Holiness​.” Donate now at www.firstthings.com/campaign Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Dec 05, 202430 minEp. 433

Poetry in the Age of Disenchantment

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Charles Taylor, joins in to discuss his new book, “Cosmic Connections: Poetry in the Age of Disenchantment​.” Donate now at www.firstthings.com/campaign Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Nov 25, 202432 minEp. 432

Liberalism and Civic Virtue

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, F. H. Buckley, joins in to discuss his new book, “The Roots of Liberalism: What Faithful Knights and the Little Match Girl Taught Us about Civil Virtue​.” Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Nov 16, 202426 minEp. 431

The Truth Is in the Classics

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, Paul Krause, joins in to discuss his new book, “Finding Arcadia: Wisdom, Truth, and Love in the Classics.” Human Life Review: humanlifereview.life/fifty Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Nov 14, 202430 minEp. 430

Science Says God Is Real

In the ​latest installment of the ongoing interview series with contributing editor Mark Bauerlein, José Carlos González-Hurtado, joins in to discuss his new book, “New Scientific Evidence for the Existence of God.” Human Life Review: humanlifereview.life/fifty Intro music by Jack Bauerlein.

Nov 11, 202428 minEp. 429
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